The Blooming Day

By Paul Fusca

Clouds, a rare trait that only one of one hundred thousand people possess, affect the world everyday. Whether it’s in politics, sports, or even personal affairs, the abnormal idea of clouds changes everyone’s lives, especially those in the city of Velindas. Home to some of the world’s finest attractions, such as fancy hotels, bright shopping districts, and bustling streets, the big city of Velindas never rests. However, it is also home to the world’s most notorious gang of criminals, Rose.
When Kuril, a seemingly mysterious citizen of Velindas, gets caught up with a Rose member, he joins forces with the city’s most famous detective, Junil, in order to put an end to the gang. As the two vow to take down Rose, they realize that their lives are more interconnected with the gang than it may seem, and that a fragile, blind girl may link everyone together.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Jan 21, 2022
• ISBN: 9781663235206

Paul Fusca

PJ Fusca is a high school student who was born in New Brunswick, New Jersey. Remaining in the state with his family, he studies literature and psychology and can often be found around his friends. With his love for the human mind, he creates thrilling stories for all to enjoy.

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Copyright © 2022 Paul Fusca.

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ISBN: 978-1-6632-3515-2 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-6632-3520-6 (e)

iUniverse rev. date: 01/20/2022

CONTENTS

Chapter I

Chapter II

Chapter III

Chapter IV

Chapter V

Chapter VI

Chapter VII

Chapter VIII

Chapter IX

Chapter X

CHAPTER I

T he day is October 9 th , 2018. The city of Velindas is constantly moving: filled streets, luxurious hotels, teenage gangs, and even apartments for those who work in the bustling capitalist society that’s only embraced in such an area. Because it’s in the dead center of a desert, it almost never rains in Velindas. The humidity remains low, the temperature stays high during the day and low at night, and the outskirts of the city are filled with patches of desert sand. Besides that, the shopping districts in the city are popular among tourists and feature a long variety of products from clothes to illegal prostitutes. Typically centered around the hotels, the market sectors are also crowded and constantly moving, while the business side of the city is made for people on even longer walks or people who are living their daily lives of suffering through daily work. The business streets are never as crowded as the shopping streets, but nonetheless keep busy throughout the day.

Velindas remains alive at dusk and the morning birds greet the night owls as their sleep schedules intersect. The city is constantly bustling, hotels being built to be even larger than the competitor next door. There is never a dull moment in Velindas, whether you’re taking the zipline between the two Velindas Grand Hotels that neighbor each other or taking a bite out of the ridiculously expensive food that drowns you in regret the next day. The skies are an industrial black when it’s late and a glowing shade of blue in the heat of the day. Outside the vast city, there are long chains of mountains with few highways and roads to get in and out.

Velindas tends to be the city people like to fly into rather than take other means of transport, due to the beautiful desert landscape it provides by the plane’s window. The sunset is more beautiful in Velindas than anywhere else, and the jazzy 80s-esque vibes are only enhanced by the late night walks. Big business buildings on one side and giant hotels and attractions for everyone to have fun with on the other describes the layout of the city, along with the dune-like outskirts. The sidewalks grow narrow by the ends of the city and once you reach the final building, it becomes a flat desert with mountains just barely walking distance away for the average person.

Velindas is home to many people, good or bad, black or white, rich or poor, but it’s also home to the world’s most notorious gang: Rose, an elite group of thieves numbered one through fifteen. Rose specializes in stealing the most treasured valuables they can locate, and none of their real names are known by officials. No one knows of their real identities, but they all hold supernatural abilities known as clouds.

The concept of a cloud is similar to a superpower. One can get their own cloud naturally by genetics or by going through a life-changing experience. Such an ability can be strengthened through killing other cloud users. Clouds tend to maximize their strength in harsh situations, but using all the energy from a cloud can lead to death. Clouds can be really anything: the ability to float, the ability to see farther, the ability to see what’s behind you, the ability to see through objects of your choice. There is no known limit to what a cloud can and cannot be. Some clouds are simple, like the ability to fly, and some can be bizarre, like the ability to make someone’s arm move. These abilities influence the world in many ways: through gangs, through politics, through fighting, even through sports. It’s estimated that 0.001% of the global population has a cloud. Despite the fact that 1 out of 100,000 people have a cloud, there is no doubt that the world is constantly changing due to these supernatural abilities.

Some clouds have a second ability, which relates to the first ability. This is known as a cloud unlock. Cloud unlocks are considered extremely rare and having one is not defined by power, but rather just the sheer nature of your cloud. Despite that fact, the more powerful a cloud is, the more likely it is to form a cloud unlock. Because clouds adapt and change to the user’s will, a cloud unlock could be anything and could form at any point in a cloud’s development.

The reason they’re called clouds, however, is entirely up to speculation. While some historians believe clouds were associated with religion, such as a gift from God, some believe they were referred to as clouds because they are powers that are above humans. It has been argued that it’s a mistranslation of a foreign language, but either way, they are known to be referred to as clouds and that’s all.

Rose has been terrorizing Velindas for a few years, using the outskirts and some abandoned buildings on the outside as their hideouts. Police attempts to apprehend them have failed, and they’ve done whatever they wanted. The gang is wanted globally and serves as an idol to many teenage gangs. The world wants the Rose members gone, whether in jail or dead, but no one can do the job. With the world being unable to face Rose, two men enter the scene: one who seeks revenge on Rose and one who serves as a high-end detective who always solves his cases.

You saw that calling card Rose sent us? spoke a brown-haired individual across the room.

What about it? responded the blond-haired one.

Don’t you think we should be scared, Kuril? It’s Rose!

No. It’s only one of their members according to the calling card. Kuril rested his eyes. If they try anything we have measures to make sure they don’t accomplish their goal.

I suppose you’re right, but what if the—

Are you not a relative of the detective named Junil? Calm yourself, it’s in your blood to win this one.

Time would pass across that boring room. The two men were guarding a jewel that was to be examined by a top-notch businessman in the work-side of Velindas.

Yanni, don’t you think it’s a little late? We should have our visitor, Kuril wondered, why aren’t they here?

It sounds like you want them to come and steal the Teardrop of Alexandria. We’d be sure as hell fired, Yanni replied.

The clock ticking in the room was creating tension. Kuril felt it in his blood that he had to serve justice to whoever came to steal the Teardrop of Alexandria, the jewel he was guarding alongside Yanni. While Yanni was feeling anxious, Kuril was awaiting the time for the calling card’s threat.

Shouldn’t we have gotten the police involved? Yanni asked.

Mr. Dawson said he contacted the officials, Kuril told him. Guess he fucking lied, huh?

If I have to go head-to-head with one of the world’s best thieves, I’m pulling a gun and running out of here.

The clock was still ticking, like a clock should, but Kuril and Yanni were waiting for an explosion to destroy the wall, followed by the entrance of a giant man ready to kill them so there were no eyewitnesses to his thievery. Yanni started to snap to the melody of a song, which Kuril responded by tapping his foot loudly, having it echo through the spacious room to continue the beat.

You like synth-pop? Yanni asked, trying to keep himself calm.

Can’t say I do, Kuril answered, but that song has a nice bassline at the chorus.

The two of them continued sitting in their chairs waiting for the calling card’s sender to make their grand entrance. The night was growing old, yet the warning about a Rose invasion kept the two men on their toes.

If we live tonight, wanna grab a beer? Yanni offered.

I’m not one for alcohol, but I’ll still show if you want.

You’re not a drinker?

Do I look like one?

Fair.

The spacious room had long forgotten the melody that the two men were playing. The entire area was silent, until both of them heard footsteps.

No way, Yanni whispered. You’d think he’d make his first impression in a grandiose fashion.

Yanni slowly took out his pistol and took a deep gulp. His hands were slightly twitching, but he was confident that he was going to take on this mysterious man. It was rather ironic that a man with so much confidence was struggling to grip onto his handgun.

Yanni, Kuril silently spoke, I’m going to check.

Don’t die on me, we’re still going for drinks after this.

Kuril slowly stepped toward the exit of the room that contained the Teardrop of Alexandria. He walked into the hallway that connected a room with billions of dollars worth of value and a different empty room.

Bravo!

Kuril immediately took a defensive stance and scanned his surroundings. Someone else was in this building besides the two personnel.

Kuril! Yanni ran out of the room tightly gripping his pistol.

A figure stepped into the light of the hallway. He looked like your ordinary man, but had a smug smirk across his face and a condescending, yet taunting look. Yanni was trembling, yet filled to the brim with determination, all while Kuril was boiling in his own hatred.

My name is Fifteen, I’m a member of Rose!

His outfit was a normal windbreaker and a white t-shirt, as if he was a grown man about to go on a jog in the summer. He was wearing khakis and his hair was straight, yet dyed red.

You’re here for the Teardrop of Alexandria, aren’t you? Yanni asked, aiming his pistol at him.

That’s not very friendly. Is that how you greet your mother? he jested.

Sorry, Fifteen, but this area is restricted. You’re going to have to leave, Yanni spoke, or I’ll have to make you.

That shift of tone was not taking any effect on Fifteen, which was shown by his immediate response.

That’s very fair, but I don’t intend on leaving without that jewel.

I have full authority to shoot you right now.

Yanni’s seriousness was at maximum while Kuril just stood next to him watching the scene. In secret, he was analyzing the nature of his opponent, knowing a fight was going to go down. In the matter of a split second, the gun in Yanni’s hand was gone and Fifteen was still in the same spot, but in a different pose. It was a matter of utilizing his cloud, which looked like super speed.

You can’t shoot me if you don’t have a gun, said the comical Fifteen.

That cockiness will be your downfall, Kuril said with a smirk. Mark all six words I just spoke.

You’re such an intimidating man.

Despite calling Kuril intimidating, Fifteen was smiling. Fifteen was confident he was going to take that jewel and that two people with guns weren’t an issue for the skill of his cloud.

I’ll be taking that jewel now, Fifteen said, casually walking past the two men.

Not on my watch.

Kuril’s eyes averted to the entrance to the room, flinging his arm toward the door. His arm turned to water and created a strand of water going to the door. The strand of water stretched itself out and covered the entire slot of the door.

Water. Fifteen let out a laugh. I’m so scared! Nice to see that you have a cloud.

He zoomed straight past the water, getting himself wet during his super speed showoff.

One of you, what’s the password to unlock the safe?

You’ll have to kill me first, Yanni said, smiling and taking a glance at Kuril.

Kuril exchanged his smirk back, then went toward Fifteen. The two of them stood across from each other in the room. Fifteen turned around and faced Kuril, expecting a password from him. At this point, Kuril’s water barrier was removed, but Fifteen was still wet. Kuril flung his hand, a dot of water touching the ground below him.

Kuril walked forward a bit, then dashed straight at Fifteen before turning to water. Fifteen just chuckled, but was met with a hand in his hair. On Fifteen’s back was Kuril, who just regenerated out of thin air.

You bastard! How the fuck did you just do that? Fifteen yelled.

Yanni! Get the pistol!

Yanni was looking on from the hallway, but heard and saw Kuril’s actions in the other room through the open door. Yanni took a look around and found his pistol on the ground and immediately picked it up.

Kuril, I can’t aim! He’s going to speed right past the bullet!

Get off me, you fucking runt!

Fifteen was struggling to take Kuril off of him, and at this point, Kuril was thinking of his next move. Kuril was still on top of Fifteen like he was being given a piggyback ride, gripping onto his hair.

Yanni, toss me the pistol! Kuril commanded using all the air in his lungs.

Yanni threw the pistol across the room, and both Fifteen and Kuril went to grab it, but Kuril smacked it out of the air and had it spin back to the door.

Kuril! Yanni screamed, knowing that Fifteen getting a pistol would be the end of them.

Kuril liquified yet again and disappeared, reappearing in front of the pistol and grabbing it. Kuril threw the gun in the air directly above him. The gun spun in the air toward the roof of the room, but only peaked a foot below the ceiling. The gun, such a deciding factor in this battle, showed that even with clouds, guns were still extremely useful in battle.

With no backup plan, Fifteen rushed toward Kuril using his speed, but Kuril already became water again. Fifteen scanned his sights, only to find nothing. Yanni was watching on by the entrance, astonished by the performance that was ongoing. Reappearing in the same piggyback position on Fifteen, he caught his own gun and aimed it to Fifteen’s head.

Fifteen stood still. He was in complete shock at how easily defeated he was.

You must read your opponent before you fight them, Kuril said, that’s how you win.

I have no intention of submitting to you.

Tell me who you are and who your coworkers are, Kuril demanded, or I’ll end your pathetic life right now.

I work for Rose, I’m Fifteen.

Who are the other members? spoke Kuril, still on Fifteen’s shoulders with the gun to his head.

I refuse to speak.

You know what that means?

I refuse to beg for my life.

You won’t need to. Kuril had already made up his mind even if he complied. Now die and repent for your sins in hell.

Fuck you.

The gun went off, Fifteen’s body fell to the floor, and Kuril hit the ground alongside him. Brain matter was all over the floor, leaving a mess in the area where the jewel was supposed to be secured. Kuril immediately stood up right after taking the fall with Fifteen.

Kuril, how? Yanni started jumping up and down.

It’s my cloud, Kuril confirmed, I can become water at will or make any part of my body water.

No, but how did you teleport?

A fool thinks he knows his opponent, a tactician keeps learning about their opponent.

Kuril, I’m serious. What the hell did you do back there?

My ability allows me to regain my human build at any point of water that I’ve generated. I used that drop on the floor near the gun to regenerate before he could notice and run over. The water disintegrates when I reform my body, but if you noticed, he was wet. I used the back of my hand’s skin to keep his hair wet so I could rebuild my body on top of him.

What?

Kuril shook his hand and a droplet of water across the room.

Watch, Kuril instructed.

Kuril’s body became entirely water, and he became human again in the corner of the room, where there was a single droplet of water. The body of water where he dispersed into liquid had faded away.

I can become whole again wherever there is water, but only the water I produced from my own cloud, which is my body.

Why do your clothes come with you and not get wet?

Clouds have a property that adapts to their user, meaning that my clothes stick with my ability due to my will for such. I can also manipulate the water to my will as long as it’s connected to my body.

I see, Yanni said, smiling, you’re going to become so famous for what just went down.

Not really, Kuril replied, I don’t intend on interviews and I’d like for it to remain private. You can take credit, but they’ll probably target you.

Yikes.

Kuril’s clothes were already dark, so the stains weren’t very easy to notice. The two men returned to their chairs with the corpse on the ground. Yanni was still gleeful while Kuril had grown exhausted.

Wouldn’t it be badass if we did that song again? Yanni laughed.

And so, Yanni snapped. Kuril caught on with the snapping, and they were performing a synth-pop piece with their fingers and feet. The only difference in this performance from the last one was the body on the ground and the blood around it.

How many more hours? Kuril asked.

About three more hours of watching then we can head out. Yanni checked his phone. I should contact Junil.

Why would you contact him?

"He’s the only non-corrupt official in this area